Distance Opportunities for Interpreter Training (DO IT) Center
Director: Leilani J. Johnson, Ed.D
Teaching ASL M.A. Program Coordinator: Greta Knigga-Daugherty, Ph.D.
Location: Denver Center @ Lowry
Telephone: 303.365.7688 or 720.216.2662
The mission of the DO IT Center is to design and deliver quality instruction to a national audience that prepares both qualified ASL-English interpreters and ASL teachers. The master’s program in Teaching ASL (TASL) is a unique hybrid program offered online with summer sessions in Greeley as an MA or an MA plus licensure track. The ASL-English Interpretation (ASLEI) program, offered online and in Denver at the Lowry site, is the only distance delivered program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education. Other offerings include the Leadership and Supervision Certificate Program, the Legal Interpreter Training Program, the Colorado Educational Interpreter Professional Development Series, and ASL 1-4 coursework offered in Greeley, Denver Center at the Lowry site, and online.
DO IT Center faculty (hearing and Deaf) are selected from around the nation for their recognized expertise; having published in their respective areas, presented at professional conferences and contributed to the growth of the profession.
Teaching American Sign Language M.A.
The Teaching American Sign Language (TASL) Program is a distance delivered master's degree with required onsite summer sessions which prepares instructors to teach American Sign Language (ASL) in a number of settings including secondary and post-secondary settings. The focus of this program is on pedagogical coursework as applicable to teaching ASL as a foreign or as a modern language, not learning or mastering ASL. Therefore, all students must demonstrate ASL proficiency prior to acceptance into the program.
Check the program website for more information about the program and admission and application requirements.
Admission requirements
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 semester hours of coursework.
- If an applicant does not have a 3.0 GPA, he/she will be required to take the GRE and score at least 900 on the exam and a 3.5 on the written section. He/she may contact the program coordinator and ask for permission to waive this requirement.
- International applicants must pass the TOEFL exam with a minimum score of 550 or 80 for the internet based exam.
- Please Note: The University of Northern Colorado at this time is unable to accept applications for online courses or programs from students residing in the following states: Arkansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Application requirements
- Complete the online application for the UNC Graduate School and pay the graduate application fee.
- Send all official transcripts to the UNC Graduate School.
- Submit two letters of recommendation from supervisors/teachers who know the applicant's work to the UNC Graduate School.
- Submit a 1-2 page statement of educational goals and philosophy to the UNC Graduate School.
- All applicants will be required to demonstrate ASL proficiency prior to acceptance to the TASL Program.
Application Deadline: February 15th for the following summer. However, applications will be accepted until all positions have been filled. Applicants will be notified no later than April 15th whether they have been accepted into the program or not.
Demonstration of ASL Proficiency:
All applicants will be required to demonstrate ASL proficiency prior to the practicum courses, TASL 593 and TASL 594.
For degree and program requirements, see:
Teaching American Sign Language M.A.